Advice for Parents of Teens

The teenage years are definitely a time when you wish that each of your children came with a survival guide that contained all the answers to teens’ mysterious, angst-riddled, hormone-laden souls. But, alas, as we’ve already discovered multiple times in this parenthood journey, no such guide exists. So, we’ve gathered together experienced educators and teachers to provide advice and opinion on issues pertaining to parenting teenagers. You’ll also find articles from college students and recent grads whose teen years aren’t that far behind them, and who can lend much needed perspective on the ups and downs, the challenges and issues that high school students and their parents typically face.

With the new testing season almost upon us, parents should be aware of what is required so they can help their children prepare. Depending on the particular type of test –ACT Aspire, SAT, or any of the new computer-based tests—all require writing as an important part of the assessment.

Your child will encounter many things while in high school, many decisions that will be forced to make and many situations that they need to be ready for. Helping a preteen prepare mentally and emotionally beforehand can make for a smoother transition.

Dating is serious business for teens and, as a parent, your job is to provide guidance that protects them as much as possible. Although you cannot possibly prevent every broken heart, you can teach them to get to know a potential boyfriend or girlfriend before things become too serious.

Whether the goal involves getting that important scholarship, improving in their basketball game or getting into the right college, goals are important. Goal setting is not a skill we are born with and requires some thinking to set the right goals. The goals should be specific to what you wish to ac

To your teen, adulthood and a career may seem like a lifetime away, but as a parent, you realize it is just around the corner. You cannot make this major life decision for your child, but you can provide guidance and assistance to make it easier.

One of the most important things in a teen’s world is making and maintaining good relationships. From friends to boyfriends or girlfriends, these relationships give many teens a sense of belonging and a peer group that helps them to cope with the daily stresses of school and of life.

Inspiring students to do well in school is not only the job of teachers and school counselors. Parents can help children become motivated by showing them how “boring” schoolwork can help them reach their goals for the future.

When helping your child focus on his future career, many things need to come into place to best prepare. One of the things you can do is to make sure the coursework he takes aligns with his career goals.

Every little bit helps when you are helping your child plan for their future career. Meeting community and industry professionals and exploring various career options can go a long way toward helping them plan for their future career.

When planning for a career, it is to think beyond high school, graduation. This is often hard to envision for students who still focus on the here and now, but it is important to planning what they should do to achieve their career goals.

In today’s day and age, it is easier than ever for kids to access drugs and other harmful substances. Many get drugs from their friends and classmates, but students can also order drugs online. Learn how you as a parent can prevent your child from getting involved in drug use.

Alcohol is illegal for those under the age of 21 for a reason. Teenager’s brains are not fully developed before then, limiting their ability to make wise decisions. Early abuse of alcohol can have a detrimental affect on their development. Learn how to talk to your teen about the dangers of alcohol.

Smoking is a very dangerous and addictive habit. Not only does it have serious health consequences, it has been proven to visibly age your skin (a detail that will prevent many teens from picking up a cigarette!) Learn the facts about the dangers of smoking for kids.

Parents are sometimes reluctant to hire tutors, imagining them to be a waste of resources. However, tutors are in a much better position to help your students with individual attention than a teacher who is strapped for time, or yourself who may not be as familiar with the subject matter.

Many children learn how to read books while they are still very young because their parents introduced them to the world of reading and books. But as they grow older, how do parents help their teens keep their interest in reading books? Learn a few reading strategies that work for teenagers.